Pivotable housing for a fiber optic connector

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material, which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

None.

The present invention relates to fiber optic connectors, and more particularly, to an outer housing for fiber optic connector that is retained and allows access to internal connector components such as bias springs, ferrules or fiber strands for improving assembly and reducing manufacturing cost.

Modern high capacity optical systems often utilize fiber optic connectors for inter-system connection. As there are multiple connection points in an optical path, and a spring is typically required to bias forward a ferrule assembly, there is a need to simplify assembly of the fiber optic strands or cable containing multiple strands by having access to internal components without fully detaching connector housing.

According to the present invention, a fiber optic connector comprises a ferrule housing with at least on ferrule and at least one fiber optic strand. In a traditional LC fiber connector, as shown in FIG. 1 , a single spring is configured to bias a ferrule forward in a housing that contains both. In the present invention, the housing top or bottom portion is configured to open on a hinge or similar pivot point to allow access to internal components.

In a prior art connector, a housing is separated to gain access to internal components. Referring to U.S. Pat. No. 9,678,263 titled Fiber Optic Connector Assemblies with Adjustable Polarity, Chang, and owned by the assignee of the present invention, at FIG. 1 , plug frame 150 a is secured within housing 180 , and housing 180 is separated to gain access to plug frame 150 a or plug frame 150 b . Referring to Chang, FIG. 3A , housing 380 is separated to gain access to internal components.

In the present invention, a top housing is secured at a pivot point, allowing a user to gain access without removing fully disassembling the connector. So if a spring is damaged, or a ferrule face is scratched (introducing signal loss), the components can be replaced. Also, access allows one to change out ferrule assembly from male as shown in FIG. 1 of Chang to female, which is well-known in the prior art.

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a male fiber optic connector with a pivotable outer or upper housing according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of outer housing of the connector of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view lower housing of the connector of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a front perspective view illustrating pivot-snap points for attaching outer housing of FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5 is side perspective view illustrating catch recess to latch outer housing of FIG. 2 to lower housing of FIG. 3 ;

In the following description, apparatuses for assembling a fiber optic connector with a pivotable outer housing. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications, including additions and/or substitutions may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Specific details may be omitted so as not to obscure the invention; however, the disclosure is written to enable one skilled in the art to practice the teachings herein without undue experimentation.

FIG. 1 depicts a male fiber optic connector ( 100 ) with a pivotable upper housing ( 10 ) secured at a proximal end of connector ( 100 ) or nearer ferrule ( 16 a ) (refer to FIG. 6 ). Upper housing ( 10 ) has a latch ( 13 ) for securing to lower housing ( 12 ) within latch catch or latch recess ( 14 ). A cable boot assembly ( 11 ) is secure to a distal end of connector ( 100 )

FIG. 2 depicts pivotable upper housing ( 10 ), the housing ( 10 ) as plural of snaps ( 10 ( a ) ( 1 )-( 4 ))), each snap corresponds to a recessed shoulder ( 10 ( b ) ( 1 )-( 4 ))), (refer to FIG. 4 The shoulder is concaved to accept snap and allow upper housing ( 10 ) to pivot up and away exposing internal components such a spring ( 15 ), ferrule ( 16 a ) and ferrule flange ( 16 b ) (refer to FIG. 3 ) for assembly or repair as needed.

FIG. 3 depicts lower housing ( 12 ) without upper housing ( 10 ) attached. Internal components spring ( 15 ), ferrule assembly ( 16 ), and incoming fiber strands ( 17 a , 17 b ) secured under pin ( 17 ) from cable boot assembly ( 11 ) are accessible when upper housing ( 10 ) is detached. As discussed, in the prior art the entire upper housing was removed. This may result in component loss, i.e. upper housing, or upon reattaching, upper housing may be misaligned binding or damaging connector.

FIG. 4 depicts lower housing ( 12 ) view from proximal end. A plural of concave recesses ( 10 ( b )( 1 )-( 4 ))) are configured to accept and secure a corresponding snap ( 10 ( a )( 1 )-( 4 )) formed as bar, shaft or cam to be secured within recesses without easily detaching but also upper housing to be rotated up and away exposing the internal components of connector ( 100 ).

FIG. 5 depicts a side, bottom view of lower housing ( 12 ) with latch area ( 14 ) configured to secure upper housing ( 10 ) to lower housing ( 12 ) via latch 13 ( FIG. 1 ), as lower housing ( 10 ) is depressed over lower housing ( 12 ), latch 13 is secured with opening ( 14 ) as shown by arrow “P”, in FIG. 1 . Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 2 together, latch ( 13 ) has a lip ( 13 a ) that will latch ( 13 ) is pressed into opening ( 14 ), and released, latch ( 13 ) has memory or is resilient, and lip ( 13 a ) is caught on corresponding lower housing wall structure to secure upper housing to lower housing to form connector housing or body.

An ordinarily skilled person in the art can appreciate that by following the principal of the present invention, a version of the adapter for mating a multi-diber optic ferrule connector with another multi-fiber optic ferrule connector can be derived without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention described herein are related to multi-fiber optic applications, the present invention can be adapted to single fiber optic applications. Specific details may be omitted so as not to obscure the invention; however, the disclosure is written to enable one skilled in the art to practice the teachings herein without undue experimentation.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated.